A final farewell show is being organised to celebrate the career of one of Bedford's most prolific dance teachers who is retiring after 55 years.

Jeannette Clark, 69, founded the Milton School of Dance when she was just 14 years old, and has taught thousands of students.

She now wants to contact some of the dancers she has helped over the years, as well as the stage hands and costume designers, so she can put on one final performance.

Mrs Clark, who runs the school from St Mary's Church in Goldington, said: "Some of my pupils wanted to do one more concert, but I have cut back on how much I teach and so I told them we did not have the numbers.

"Then I had the idea of getting in contact with some of the old dancers and people who have helped me out previously.

"Some of my former pupils who are going to take part are now in their forties and fifties, but you are never too old."

Mrs Clark started dancing when she was four years old, but growing up in rural south Wales she found it difficult to travel to the dance school she attended eight miles away.

She solved this problem by starting to teach dance herself, and when her family moved to Clapham in 1954 she began schooling young Bedfordians in the arts of tap dance and ballet.

She said: "I organised my first concert when I was 15 years old and at 16 years old I entered my first pupils for their Royal Academy of Dance exams.

"My mother had to take them to the exam because it was on the same day as my O-levels. Thankfully everyone passed.

"I must have taught thousands of people over the years, I take them from three years old up until they are in their teens usually, although I did a successful mothers and daughters class for a while."

She added: "I used to teach full-time, five days a week after school and also on Saturday mornings. When I had 250 pupils we used to do five concerts a year, many for charity as well as at church fetes.

"I will be sad to see the school go but I want to travel."

Mrs Clark said dancing had been a family business for years, with her son Stephen and daughter Sarah enjoying it from a young age. Husband Bob helped with the lighting for concerts.

She said: "I have my granddaughter Tilley in the school, so I have started her off on her dance career. I used to have to look after Tilley on the same day I taught my young ones dance class and so she got a taste for it."

The final Milton School of Dance concert will be held at the University of Bedfordshire theatre on the Polhill Avenue campus in Bedford on Sunday, July 13.

Anyone interested in helping can contact Mrs Clark on 01234 404893 or email her at jeannette@bagofspoons.net